January 20th

“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” Genesis 9:16

how like God, once again
turning expectations on their head—
that bow is hung in the sky
not as a threat or weapon
but a multi-hued reminder
to us to keep remembering.
to take a breath in the rain
and pay attention to what still is,
colors drenching fear ‘til it is gone,
clouds taking a step back
as promise stretches grace
across the sky before our eyes.
this is not a contract carved
in stone or codified in books,
but light,
so fragile it might disappear,
so faithful it always returns
and so, whenever it seems
this weary world is about to drown
in its own anger, noise, power
God stands next to us, looking up
and, touching the sky with hope,
reminds us in the silence
that we are not forgotten.
for the miracle is not
that the flood waters receded,
but that grace always remembers
where we are.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

January 19th

“The Lord upholds all who are falling,
     and raises up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14

the Old Book reminds us
of the hand beneath the falling,
of a shoulder for those
weighed down by injustice—
a promise heard by Martin,
who believed God’s strength
can be seen in a wearied people
linking arms for justice,
could be heard in the feet
never too sore to march.
for God picks up the fallen,
not by gaslighting the weight
but by sharing it,
not with boasting or bravado
but with bread,
not with taunts of hate
but with songs carried
from the jails of the powerful,
not with false promises
but with shared hopes
and a dream whispered
until it learned how to walk.
bruised bodies and weary souls
are upheld when justice is practiced daily,
when love refuses
to give up a seat to hate,
when grace bends down
to proclaim, ‘you are not alone.’
rise,
we will stand together.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

January 18th

“But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.” Ephesians 4:7

it doesn’t come in, banging
the door open like a little kid.
no, grace is like that soft breeze
stirring the curtains in the morning.
we don’t all receive the same portion,
but each of us has that amount
we need, weighed out by Love.
a thimble here, a cup there,
a river for him, a waterfall for her,
whatever we need to fill
that emptiness inside of us.
it is a gift that is not scattered
carelessly like easy promises
but offered for those whose
hearts are shattered,
for all who know the ache of waiting,
everyone who knows what
each day costs them.
it’s not a competition but an invitation
to serve where you find yourself
to share what is given
to stop standing next to others
to see who is better, wiser, whatever
that’s grace
never more than we need,
nor less than what we can share,
just enough to become
the love which is needed
wherever we are.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

January 17th

“Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.” Genesis 6:22

look,
we don’t need to be skilled
enough to build an ark,
but we can create hope
with the building blocks of kindness.
look,
we can’t be expected
to save all humanity,
but we can be a better friend
to those tossed aside
by the privileged of our world.
look,
alone, we don’t have
to try to save all of creation,
but if we recycle more and not
leave such big footprints,
who knows what might happen?
look,
we aren’t all called to be Noah,
but to be grace,
hope
justice
compassion
inclusion
wherever we are.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

January 16th

"I pour out my complaint before him;
     I tell my trouble before him.” Psalm 142:2

maybe,
when we step
to the other side of grace,
God will explain everything.
those nagging questions which
tickle us awake at night,
the irreparable divisions
we cannot seem to bridge,
the suffering we cannot dismiss
as easily as the privileged seem to do.
someday,
when we step
to the other side of grace,
God will explain everything.
so, until then,
let us love as expansively
as Jesus did,
let us harvest the hope
planted deep within us,
let us be that grace-companion
someone is desperately needing
for these are all we have
to offer until we step
to the other side of
grace.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo:@Thom-Shuman

January 15th

“Nathanael asked him, "Where did you come to know me?" John 1:48a

that’s the question, isn’t it?
the one folded up
in the back pocket of doubt.
‘have we met before?’
it is as if someone recognizes us
by accident, thinking
we’re someone else, as if
we need to be introduced to love.
but Jesus doesn’t pull up a selfie
or a bunch of text messages,
it’s simply the fact that
he saw us when we were lost,
with no memorized answers,
no hiding place no one else knows,
no practiced explanations.
you see, we are not discovered
because we know the right questions,
or come from the right family,
or went to the best schools,
but grace keeping an eye out for us,
recognizing us long before
we catch a glimpse of love—
a holy surprise.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

January 14th

 “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:7

like kids coming to our doors
on Halloween
you show up—
the speaker garbed in
sparkling robes of charisma.
that new friend who, out of
the goodness of their hearts,
invites us to get in on a great deal.
a co-worker whose flirting
behavior slowly draws us
into a web of betrayal.
some clown wearing silly hair
and enough make-up
to cover the cruelty which
is at the heart of their act.
but when the robe is off,
and the dream of riches turns to dust,
when our hearts are shattered
and the make-up removed,
we recognize you—
that master of disguises
who has fooled more people
than will ever admit it.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman